Taipei: Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and a cross-party delegation of Taiwanese lawmakers met with officials of the White House and the U.S. Department of Defense on Thursday. According to Focus Taiwan, a source who accompanied the Taiwanese delegation noted an unnamed U.S. official reiterated America's stance on Taiwan to Han, though the agency and the specific position the official was referring to were not clarified.
Han and the delegation also met with staff from the Heritage Foundation at an exchange function before attending a banquet organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. At the reception, Han encouraged more overseas visits by legislators, as Taiwan remains "alone and isolated" on the international stage due to a lack of diplomatic relations with large countries.
He went on to address the delegation, stating that no matter how much lawmakers from different parties disagree in the Legislature, they must outwardly show a united front. "When we do well, our people overseas will naturally feel proud," Han said. "When we do well, the entirety of Taiwan will become more and more confident. Therefore, legislative diplomacy is extremely important."
Taiwan's representative to the United States, Alexander Yui, said that the caliber of the officials the delegation met with during the trip was a testament to the U.S.' solid support for Taiwan. The delegation will next attend a ceremony marking EVA Airlines' launch of direct flight between Taiwan and Washington, D.C., on Friday, before returning to Taiwan on the route's inaugural service.